About the organisation

The Values Foundation is an independent, non-profit organisation, established in February 1998 by Antonina Stoyanova - wife of the former President of Bulgaria.

The main purpose of the Values Foundation is to assist and promote the development of Bulgarian science, education and culture as well as to present and publicise their achievements.

The projects of the Values Foundation range from small-scale ones launched by individual citizens to large scale projects requiring the collaboration and support of other Bulgarian NGO’s. These projects aim at promoting dialogue and co-operation at national, regional and European level in three major spheres: education, arts, and science.

The history competition

The National History Competition ("Nacionalen Istoričeski Konkurs") was launched in Bulgaria in May 1999 by the Values Foundation. In 1998, the Körber-Stiftun, initiated the proposal for including Bulgaria within the frameworks of the EUSTORY project. At present, there are neither governmental nor other nongovernmental organisations in Bulgaria offering an approach for students to expose their interests in the field of history, as well as to the teachers to work on research projects.

Requirements

The competition is open to students of all schools between the age of 14 and 19. Both individual and group research papers can be submitted. There is no restriction as to the size of the group.

Informative seminars are organised for potential participants and tutors throughout the country. The information materials, a brochure and a magazine, are free of charge and contain the research requirements for papers, the evaluation criteria and general information on the competition topic. The research paper should not explore facts and issues already known and written but should focus on research and analysis. Each research paper should contain: plan, introduction, presentation, conclusion and appendix. Participants can get assistance as long as they do not specify the specialists they have consulted. The recommended length is minimum 15 standard typewritten pages for individual papers and 20 pages for group papers.

Jury

The research papers are evaluated by a panel of experts including university lecturers, teachers, and museum workers. The evaluation is carried out in two stages. Each research paper is evaluated independently by two members of the jury. Only 25 research papers will reach the second stage and will be publicly defended in front of a committee. The nominated 25 research papers are reviewed by all panel members. In view of a precise evaluation, an evaluation form is prepared with the main criteria: research and investigation; obligatory structural elements; contents and contribution.

Awards

There are the following cash prizes for the students: one 1st prize: 511 € two 2nd prizes: 255 € three 3rd prizes: 153 € nine bonus awards: 102 € The tutors of the best research works are awarded with six cash prizes: 102 € each. There are also many special prizes and books. Each participant receives an honorary diploma.